Additional charges filed in case of girl left in wooden cage

LAS CRUCES —The Las Cruces man accused, along with his girlfriend, of leaving a developmentally delayed girl alone in a "wooden cage" while the family went to a movie now faces more related child abuse charges.

A grand jury Thursday indicted Edmond Gonzales, 37, on five counts of child abuse and one of child abandonment.

Gonzales and Cindy Patriarchias, of the 100 block of Mohawk, allegedly left her 8-year-old niece in a makeshift bed police described as a "wooden cage" Jan. 25 while they took three other children to a movie night at Columbia Elementary School.

Online records showed Friday that Gonzales remains held at the Doña Ana County Detention Center on a $25,000 bond.

The additional charges came from the couples' alleged practice of placing the young girl in the wooden cage as a punishment, court documents state.

Another child living in the mobile home and Patriarchias' estranged husband told police that she and Gonzales would keep the girl in the cage when she misbehaved, according to a criminal complaint filed in Magistrate Court.

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The estranged husband, who said he moved out of the mobile home days before Gonzales move in, told police he built a wooden cage around the mattress because the girl "kept getting out of the toddler bed" they had, and into household chemicals and cabinets at night. He added that they never used it for punishment while he lived with the family.

The girl has microcephaly, a rare neurological condition, court records state. Due to that, she has the mental and physical capabilities of a toddler. In 2007, a judge granted Patriarchias kinship guardianship of the girl.

Patriarchias has yet to face the grand jury. A spokeswoman for the 3rd Judicial District Attorney said that's because those in jail must face a grand jury within two weeks of being charged. Gonzales has been jailed since his arrest. Patriarchias posted bond shortly after being arrested.

Indictment documents show Gonzales has previous convictions for drug trafficking, possession and attempted unlawful use of an ATM card.

James Staley may be reached at 575-541-5476. Follow him on Twitter @auguststaley

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